Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA RM 15 020
Apply for RFA RM 15 020
- The HHS-NIH11 in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition - Stimulating Peripheral Activity to Relieve Conditions (SPARC): Foundational Functional Mapping of Neuroanatomy and Neurobiology of Organs (OT2)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.310,.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 17, 2015 and posted on Nov 17, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 15, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $600,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition - Stimulating Peripheral Activity to Relieve Conditions (SPARC): Foundational Functional Mapping of Neuroanatomy and Neurobiology of Organs (OT2)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-RM-15-020) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant program under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It sits within the SPARC initiative, which is focused on understanding and mapping how peripheral neural circuits interact with organs, with an eye toward enabling future therapeutic strategies that modulate nerve activity to improve organ function and relieve disease conditions. This particular announcement supports "foundational" mapping work, meaning it is intended to generate essential baseline data and resolve key scientific unknowns needed before broader, more comprehensive mapping efforts can be launched.
At its core, the FOA is designed to fund projects that produce critical data about functional neuroanatomy in organs and the neurobiology that governs organ function. In practical terms, these projects aim to clarify which nerves connect to which organs, how those connections are organized, and how neural circuits influence physiological activity in the organs themselves. The emphasis on "functional" mapping signals that the program is not just interested in descriptive anatomy, but also in linking neural structures and pathways to measurable organ behaviors and responses. The expected output is the kind of foundational evidence base that can guide later-stage, large-scale "Comprehensive Mapping Projects" by identifying the most important circuits, targets, methods, and unanswered questions.
This is a limited competition opportunity, meaning not every interested applicant can apply directly. Applications are only accepted from teams that previously submitted the corresponding OT1 pre-application (referenced as RFA-RM-15-019), were successful in that earlier competition, and then received an invitation from NIH to submit a full OT2 application. In other words, the OT1 stage acts as a gatekeeping step to screen for scientific fit and readiness, and only invited applicants may compete for OT2 awards. This structure is meant to focus resources on proposals that NIH has already identified as aligned with SPARC goals and sufficiently mature to deliver near-term, high-value mapping data.
The award mechanism is a grant under a discretionary funding category for health research (Funding Activity Category: Health), and it is associated with CFDA numbers 93.310 (as listed in the source information). The Agency Name shown is HHS-NIH11, indicating NIH as the funding body. The opportunity was posted and created on November 17, 2015, with an application closing date of June 15, 2016 (both the original and current closing dates match). The listed award ceiling is $600,000, which indicates the maximum award amount anticipated per award under this announcement, though actual budgets would typically be driven by the approved scope of work and NIH programmatic decisions. The source text does not specify a precise number of expected awards, but it implies multiple projects may be supported depending on available funds and the quality and alignment of invited applications.
Eligibility is broad in terms of organizational types, covering many segments of the research ecosystem. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories as specified); federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and an "others" category with additional eligibility details referenced elsewhere in the full FOA. In effect, NIH is keeping the door open to universities, medical and research institutions, nonprofits, government-affiliated entities, and certain commercial organizations, as long as they have been invited through the OT1-to-OT2 process.
Overall, this FOA is best understood as a targeted, invitation-only funding path intended to accelerate early, enabling science for peripheral nerve-organ mapping. It supports research efforts that can quickly produce high-impact foundational datasets and functional insights about peripheral neuroanatomy and organ control by neural circuits, setting the stage for later comprehensive maps and, eventually, more systematic development of neuromodulation-based interventions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled "Limited Competition - Stimulating Peripheral Activity to Relieve Conditions (SPARC): Foundational Functional Mapping of Neuroanatomy and Neurobiology of Organs (OT2)."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-RM-15-020.
Which agency is offering this grant?
This opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The agency name shown is HHS-NIH11.
What program or initiative does this FOA belong to?
This FOA sits within the SPARC initiative (Stimulating Peripheral Activity to Relieve Conditions), which focuses on understanding and mapping how peripheral neural circuits interact with organs to enable future therapeutic strategies that modulate nerve activity.
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
The purpose is to fund foundational mapping projects that generate critical baseline data about functional neuroanatomy in organs and the neurobiology that governs organ function. The intent is to resolve key scientific unknowns needed before broader, more comprehensive mapping efforts are launched.
What does "foundational functional mapping" mean in the context of this FOA?
It means producing essential baseline datasets and functional insights that connect neural structures and pathways to measurable organ behaviors and responses. The emphasis is not only on descriptive anatomy, but also on how neural circuits influence physiological activity within organs.
What kinds of research outputs is NIH looking for under this announcement?
NIH is looking for high-value foundational evidence that can guide later-stage "Comprehensive Mapping Projects" by identifying important peripheral circuits, targets, methods, and remaining unanswered questions related to nerve-organ connectivity and control.
What scientific questions are these projects generally trying to clarify?
Based on the provided description, projects aim to clarify which nerves connect to which organs, how those connections are organized, and how peripheral neural circuits influence organ physiology and function.
Is this a limited competition opportunity?
Yes. This is a limited competition opportunity, meaning applications are not open to all potential applicants.
Who is allowed to apply?
Only teams that previously submitted the corresponding OT1 pre-application (RFA-RM-15-019), were successful in that earlier competition, and then received an invitation from NIH to submit a full OT2 application may apply.
What is the role of the OT1 pre-application stage?
The OT1 stage acts as a gatekeeping step to screen for scientific fit and readiness. Only applicants identified by NIH as aligned with SPARC goals and sufficiently mature to deliver near-term mapping data are invited to submit OT2 applications.
What is the relationship between RFA-RM-15-019 and RFA-RM-15-020?
RFA-RM-15-019 is the OT1 pre-application stage referenced for this limited competition. RFA-RM-15-020 is the OT2 full-application stage that is invitation-only for teams successful at OT1.
What is the Funding Activity Category for this opportunity?
The Funding Activity Category is Health.
What CFDA number is associated with this grant?
The associated CFDA number listed is 93.310.
When was this opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted (and created) on November 17, 2015.
What is the application due date?
The application closing date is June 15, 2016. The original and current closing dates are the same in the provided information.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling is $600,000, indicating the maximum amount anticipated per award under this announcement.
Does the FOA specify how many awards will be made?
No specific number of expected awards is provided in the source information. It implies multiple projects may be supported depending on available funds and the quality and alignment of invited applications.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply (if invited)?
The FOA lists broad organizational eligibility, including:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education as specified)
- Nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education as specified)
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Other Native American tribal organizations
- Public housing authorities / Indian housing authorities
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- Others (with additional eligibility details referenced elsewhere in the full FOA)
If my organization type is listed as eligible, can we submit an application without an invitation?
No. Even though organizational eligibility is broad, this is a limited competition. Applications are only accepted from teams invited by NIH after a successful OT1 pre-application process.
What makes this FOA different from later "Comprehensive Mapping Projects" mentioned in the description?
This FOA supports early, enabling science intended to generate baseline data and resolve key unknowns first. Those outputs are meant to inform and de-risk later comprehensive mapping efforts by highlighting the most important circuits, targets, and methods.
What is the overall long-term goal that this foundational work supports?
The long-term goal described is to enable future therapeutic strategies that modulate peripheral nerve activity to improve organ function and relieve disease conditions, supported by a better understanding of peripheral nerve-organ circuits.
What is the funding mechanism described in the provided information?
The mechanism is described as a grant under a discretionary funding category for health research.
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